James m



(No Model.)

J. M. SPEAR.

GORPSE BYE CLOSER.

Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES ATENT JAMES M. SPEAR, OF CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRISON SVARTZYVELDER, OF SAME PLACE.

CORPSE EYE-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,980, dated April 21, 1891.

Application filed February 20, 1891. Serial No. 382,178. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. SPEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cumberland, in the county of Alleghany and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closing Devices for the Eyelids of Corpses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for adjusting and closing the eyelids of persons after death; and it consists, substantially, in such features of improvement as will hereinafter be more particularly described and claimed.

Great difficulty has been heretofore experienced by undertakers and others having charge of the dead in eifectually adjusting and closing the eyelids of corpses in such manner as to impart thereto an undisturbed or natural appearance.

The object of my invention therefore is, first, to provide means whereby the eyelids may be adjusted and kept closed without the use or employment of weights, bandages, or the like for such purpose; second, to provide means for adjusting and closing the eyelids which when applied shall be entirely invisible or concealed from outward view or inspection, and, third, to provide means for the purpose described, which can be applied immediately after death or at any subsequent period and serve equally effectual for the purpose intended, all as will more fully appear upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an enlarged or plan view of a device embodying my improvements,the same representing the form preferably employed in practice. Fig. 2 is a view taken from the under side thereof, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the lines m 00. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, wherein a modification of the invention is shown. Fig. 7 represents a still further modification.

In carrying my invention into eifect I provide a thin piece of metal or other suitable material so shaped on its under side or surface as to conform to the external shape of the ball of the eye, and this device-is placed under or beneath the eyelids and the latter drawn down over the same as evenly as is possible. The upper surface of the device or closer is formed with a number of small sharp teeth or projections, which are turned up from the edge of the material from which the said closer may be made,and these small teeth or projections are designed to take into the flesh of the eyelid on the under side, and thereby securely and evenly maintain such lid in place.

Various forms of the device may be employed, as will appear on referring to the accompanying drawings by the letters marked thereon, in which A represents a device or eyelid-closer constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being circular in outline, as shown, and concaved on its under side to conform to the external shape of the eyeball. This device is preferably formed ring-shaped or with its central portion cut out, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to permit the eyeball to be received thereby in such manner as to prevent as much as possible any unnatural bulge of the lid when brought over, and it will be seen that small teeth or projections a are formed on the edge of the device, which are designed to take into the flesh of the eyelids on the under side. Instead of employing the forms shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,however, I may resort to the form shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, wherein the device is constructed of two curved members 5 b, crossing each other centrally at right angles, and also shaped in like manner on their under sides to conform to the eyeball. Still further, I might employ a simple circular disk-shaped piece, such as is shown in Fig. 7.

Many other forms of the device might be resorted to without departing from the scope of my invention, which is intended generically to cover any form Whatever designed to be located under the lids of the eye-for instance, in lieu of what is shown, a gum or gelatinized disk or wad might in some instances be employed with good results.

The device can be easily made from a stamp or die, and is both inexpensive, simple, and

closed after death, the same being shaped to useful. In applying the same itis fitted over the ball of the eye in such manner as to pcrmit. the lids to be naturally placed or drawn over it, when it automatically engages the under side of the lids and in this Way it is prevented from slipping out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for maintaining the eyelids fit the ball of the eye and provided with means for engaging the under side of the eyelid, substantially as described.

2. A device for maintaining the eyelids closed after death, the said device being i' 

